Wednesday, January 6, 2010

The Help

As you probably deciphered from my earlier post, I had some time on my hands during the holiday season this year. I filled up three of my days with this:


source

I'm not a very fast reader so for me to finish a 450 page book in three days...well that is a feat ladies! This book was beyond amazing. I couldn't put it down.

Here is a review and a brief summary of the book I found from The Washington Post. Don't worry...I made sure it didn't give away anything important!
Newly graduated from Ole Miss with a degree in English but neither an engagement ring nor a steady boyfriend, Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan returns to her parents' cotton farm in Jackson. Although it's 1962, during the early years of the civil rights movement, she is largely unaware of the tensions gathering around her town.

Skeeter is in some ways an outsider. Her friends, bridge partners and fellow members of the Junior League are married. Most subscribe to the racist attitudes of the era, mistreating and despising the black maids whom they count on to raise their children. Skeeter is not racist, but she is naive and unwittingly patronizing. When her best friend makes a political issue of not allowing the "help" to use the toilets in their employers' houses, she decides to write a book in which the community's maids -- their names disguised -- talk about their experiences.

Do you ever read a book and then just cannot stop thinking about it?? That is what this book did to me. I definitely recommend it and I just know you will not regret picking it up.

So have any of you read it?? What did you think?!?

20 comments:

Becky said...

I am reading this now, and I do not have enough time to read it like I want to! I too, find myself thinking about it all the time when I am not reading it and I am SO anxious to find out what happens, I am only about half-way through, so needless to say, I have a ways to go. But I am keeping my fingers crossed that we get snowed in here in Alabama so I can read the rest of it!!

Classy Fab Sarah said...

I haven't read it - but based on your review, I need to!!

Heading to Amazon to add it to my cart now!!

Heather @ Simple Wives said...

I have not read it yet! But, it looks like a good read.

A New England Girl said...

I haven't read it - nor have I heard of it - but I am adding it to my list now! :)

melissa said...

You are so not helping my commitment not to buy new books until I make a dent in the giant pile of unread books I already have. I have been wanting to read this book for months. I sense a trip to Barnes & Noble in my future...

Jackie said...

I loved this book too. I read it over the summer in two or three days as well!

Lucy Marie said...

I want to read this. But I am trying not to buy new books. I seriously need to get myself a library card.

Kristen said...

I am about halfway through the book right now. It is really good. I identify with Skeeter very much because I went to University of Alabama (liek the author) and was a journalism and creative writing major. She's way more naive than I ever was, though.

Linda said...

I'm in line for this book at the library. It looks great!

Lindsey said...

Thanks for the review, I need to read this!

5th Belle Avenue said...

WOW, this is so perfect for the post I just wrote! Can't wait to check it out, thanks for sharing! And PS. Your vacation sounded HEAVENLY!

Naturally Caffeinated Family said...

I haven't read it yet, but I keep hearing great things about it! Thanks for including the overview, I hadn't read about it yet, I'm definitely adding it to my list=)!

Life of a Savannah Wife said...

I've heard great things about this book! It's definitely on my read list. Thanks for the reminder!

Yelena said...

that books sounds great..i'm going to try to check it out soon! :) thanks for the recommendation!~ :)

jenn said...

haven't read this yet - but i totally want to. when i read the lovely bones, that's what happened to me. i thought about it forever! and now i've read it about 20 times! :)

Shaina said...

Everybody's been talking about this book lately! I'm glad to read your review...I'll probably be picking it up soon after Matt leaves!

Brittany Ann said...

I just bought this as a gift for someone! Perhaps I should read it first!

Tasha said...

I'm so glad you liked this book! It's the next selection for my book club so I'm about to start reading it. :-)

PreppyGirl said...

I haven't read it yet, my sister got it for Christmas and took it to school :-( But I definitely want to read it! The woman who wrote the book's husband was my uncle's college roommate!

Anonymous said...

I had planned to read this book next. Hopefully in the next day or so. I'm glad to see that you liked it and would recommend it.